March 3, 2010

Vītoliņš was born in Liepaja, which leaves a great imprint. He has a bad temper sometimes, he might call himself difficult.

He says : “When a man in our country starts to do something like painting, he becomes different from others. I am proud of this. Being different is exclusive.”

He enjoys swimming and riding bicycle, especially riding it in the center of the city.

He says: “I was born in 1975, 28. of September in Latvian port city Liepaja. The school i was going to ws situated in Riga. After i graduated from school i went to crafts school where i learned how to be a decorator. In times of the last socialism period’s i was working at Red Star Factory for one month, putting together motorbikes. Then I was accepted to Latvian Art academy where i spent about 7 years changing faculties. Starting with design and ending with painting faculty. I graduated from the Academy as a master of painting. In my art, at first i was making different objects and installations. In the recent years i moslty paint. I am very much attracted by industrial sceneries and different technical stuff and objects. Factories, oil derricks and cars are as close to me as people. I explore and photograph these industrial monsters quite often. Later, from the photographs i make i get the inspiration to paint. Often, i even get to know the history of these objects, this is similar to the process when surgeon before the operation reads the patient’s history. Then in process I operate just like plastic surgeon, сonverting objects, giving them new appereance and sometimes even soul. In the end, these monsters look at you with their new faces and rarely anyone can recognize them.”

At the moment Vītoliņš is getting prepared for an exhibition which we will be able to see next year. He also is in the process of creating a book.

He also draws people but does not show those paintigs as often as industrially themed.

February 3, 2010

“I was born, 1991 March 30, in Riga. I still live there,and I really love this city and all who are around – people, nature, city lifestyle and more.

I am an impulsive man, if something comes to my mind I don’t think very long but just do it now. Besides photography I study in secondary school and plus work in local shop. Also I roller-skate at amateur level. After some time I realized that if I can’t give something for skating, then I can do that with taking photos, after that I’ve started my photograpy story. In free time I like chilling with my friends or simply do nothing!

Also I paint sometime, in the past, painting was a passion for me. I went to art class, but then I left it, I just don’t know why. Also I’m making some videos for my team. I believe that everything what I do will be useful in the future.”

“Art for me is something like a toy for little children. When I feel if I need it, I just take it and do something with them, do some scratches on my paper, for example, or I take my camera and make some photos!”

“I really can’t remember my first work, but all my life I was painting something on paper and now I do that too.”

“Nothing is perfect, but if you got skills you can make something from nothing.”

He will never visualise something that really is not acceptable for people.

His inspiration: “I think all photographers which I know! I can learn a lot from them and maybe they can learn something from me.”

February 2, 2010

“I have studied very different things – starting from 3D graphics to software engineering and real time graphics programming, and the most recent – visual communication in Latvian academy of Art.

I have always been fascinated by possibilities of new technologies – especially in real time 3D graphics, so for the last five years, I have been working as a game developer. Lately I feel, that I have had enough of making games and I want to try something new. I hope I have gathered quite unique set of skills while living in both – technical and artistic worlds, so I am ready for about anything.”

“I am visual artist because I like everything that is visual. I don’t care what it is, but if it looks good and interesting – I’m in! Pretty pictures – yay!!! “

“I don’t think I have ever done a serious piece of art. What is serious anyway? It is always about playing, experimenting and learning. “

His perfect model/subject is someone extraordinary.

We asked him if he thinks he is different and here is his answer : “Deep down we are all the same. “

January 28, 2010

Oskars Pavlovskis

Graphics

He never limited himself within any particular category. He does whatever he finds interesting for himself.

Born in Latvia,Riga. He is involved with art since early childhood. Starting with art schools and ending with LMA. Works professionally as a computer graphics artist. This is exactly what he wants ti be doing in the future. Particularly designing computer games.

January 27, 2010

Mārtiņš/martini

Live digital painting

Born in Riga in February of 1986. Studied traditional painting, drawing, sculpting also 3d modelling, illustration, video arts and web-design at Janis Rozentals Riga Art School. Right now studying visual communication in Academy of Arts of Latvia. Always wanted to become a game developer.

Started only in 2007, when I tried to draw digitally(notebook+Wacom tablet) live models and surroundings as I have done it past decade in school, though with paper and pencil or oil and canvas. Paintings are mostly done in 30 minutes to 2 hours (usually till notebook`s battery depletes), so they have sketchy and fresh feel.

Perfect model.. unaware of the photographer or artist who is taking photo/drawing him so he/she is as natural as possible – that`s why no one is looking straight at me in my works, models are caught in the middle of work, conversation or just taking a rest.

January 26, 2010

Brief Biography: In 1997 I became the creator of the first company in Latvia, specialising in web site development — WebDizainaCentrs, having for two years previously tested the forces in 3D modeling with the advertising agency. From 1999 with a partner I opened RS studio, which still exists to this day and specialises in web hosting under the brand Elinks hosting. Since 2003 I have had an association with TrueVision, a company which I also partially own. Most of my time and energy has been taken with its development. Since 2007, as a hobby, I developed a portal Ind-Ex.LV, about the life of my favorite city, periodically organising offline parties with colleagues. In years 2006 – 2009 participated in development of ind-ex.lv project. Left project in the end of the year 2009.

“Design – it all started in 1996, when a first computer emerged at my house, 486. Of course first thing to do was serf the games. Packs of floppy disks, archives. But then one day a friend of mine came to me and showed me a small 3D animation of a beating heart. In that very moment i got my head blown off and decided i want to be doing computer graphics.”

“That’s actually how the connection : Me and Computer was established. It all started from 3d modeling and animation on those old computers.”

“Unfortunately, the deeper i went into discovering 3D the better i realised that i do not have enough technical resources to realise my ideas. And money was a problem at that time so eventually I ended up dealing with 2D and web design.”

“With time, understanding the essence of the discipline i realised that design – is not just an image, being drawn by someone. Design – is a lifestyle. Design – is problem solving. And graphics is a tool to cope with tasks set by client or myself. To be successful in this you should every time get into the essence of the project, business, area. To get the idea how it works.”

“Undoubtedly design helps very much throughout the life. For this concept slightly flowed into every household area of our life. I like cooking – it is also kind of design. There is mass of possibilities for examining object, experiments and problem solving.”

“What i don’t like about my job is that i have a lot more ideas in my mind than physical possibilities. Sometimes it is even hard to stop. And you have to do that sometimes. Life offline is wonderful ;>. You should not forget to breathe and experience the joy of watching a sunset. Simple things.”

“There is this thing in design that your work may never be seen. You invest your time, ideas, yourself in a project and than due to some consequences your work is to be placed in a drawer and never be seen. You can spend months working over a project. And then find out that it will never see the light. But with experience you start to feel more confident and easy-going about everything. Yes-yes; No- no.”

“I do not have specialised education in the area of design. I could do that abroad but it’s worthy and sometimes dangerous. The thing is they set limits. And people who get education there are doing same stuff all their life not asking themselves WHY? WHAT FOR?”

One of his favorite projects is screen-savers for double coffee website. Idea was Roman’s and realisation in collaboration with PAL. Within work in true-vision.net of course. And from the latest: his personal website sidorov.com Another extraordinary project – outdoor advertising for Aiziet fest. The idea to turn people up side down and put them underground with leaving legs on the surface belongs to Dmitry Bulkin. And i had to do the realisation of all this craziness ;>.